Here are the final set of answers from Derek LLambias with some comments from us.
Derek LLambias and Mike Ashley
Question 11:
Are you aware of fans’ disgruntlement with the away ticketing policy given the Toon Army are amongst the most loyal fans in the UK, and will you consider reviewing the policy?
Yes, we’re aware that some fans are unhappy with the changes we’ve made.
There was however a lot of anger from the majority of law-abiding fans at the behaviour of a few at our friendly game against Darlington that evening, and it’s as a result of their behaviour that we have introduced these restrictions.
We did so to protect the reputation of the club. The scenes we witnessed at Darlington were disgraceful and cannot be repeated. The changes we’ve made ensure that the club has better control over who gets access to away tickets so that people who break the law are able to be identified much more easily.
If non season ticket holders want to purchase tickets for away games, then it’s very simple to do so by way of a club membership.
Response:
We certainly don’t want to see any more of the antics we saw at the Darlington game, and that sullied Newcastle’s reputation, there’s no doubt about that.
Once again it seems the behavior of a few has spoiled it for the vast majority of Newcastle supporters, and it’s a great pity that some supporters will not now be able to attend the away games.
Question 12:
Alan Pardew said he was 100% convinced he would get a new number 9. What changed?
It was everyone’s desire at the club to bring in a striker. As I said in answer to a previous question, we worked hard to make that happen but ultimately couldn’t complete a deal that we’d hoped to.
Alan was aware of the efforts we were making in our negotiations and as such had every right to be confident. We were making good progress on a number of fronts, but unfortunately we couldn’t get the player over the line.
Response:
Well on the positive side Derek at least supports Alan Pardew’s view that it was almost a certainty the club would get a top striker over the line in the transfer window.
But we didn’t, and we still think it major reason is because the club stubbornly refused to pay a little over the odds for their targets. We now have to hope the club moves big time in January for two or three top players.
Question 13:
Why was Joey Barton allowed to leave for free and join a club that could be considered to be a rival in the Premier League?
Joey’s a big character and a talented player, which is why we supported him from the moment he came to Newcastle, in spite of the difficulties he faced in his first two seasons here.
In January 2011, we were keen to offer Joey a new contract because we wanted to keep him at the club. We offered him what we considered to be a great deal but unfortunately Joey chose not to accept it.
We felt we couldn’t improve on that offer and therefore would need to consider selling. However with a transfer fee attached we received no formal interest from any club. We eventually made a decision to release Joey on a free transfer after well-publicised differences between the club and the player couldn’t be resolved. We wish Joey all the best at Queens Park Rangers and look forward to seeing him on Monday for our fixture at Loftus Road.
Response:
We think Joey didn’t sign that deal because Andy Carroll was sold, and ever since that time, Joey was skeptical about the ambitions of the club, as was Jose Enrique too. Apparently Joey was about to sign the deal in late January, but then Andy was sold.
Unfortunately, Joey then got that Twitter account of his in May, and his criticism of the Newcastle Board, right or wrong, made it almost a certainty he would be moved out, and in a nutshell, that’s what happened.
We still wish he had stayed for the last season of his five year deal, because he was a great player on the field for Newcastle.
Question 14:
Many fans now consider us to be a “selling club” after the departures of Nolan, Enrique, Carroll and Barton. How do you respond to this?
The term “selling club” is a misnomer. In reality all clubs are selling clubs at the right price – even the Premier League’s top six clubs.
We’re no more a selling club than any other in the Premier League – you sell players, you buy players; that’s football. The Manchester Citys of this world operate on a different level to most other clubs, including ourselves, and it’s easier for those with greater financial clout to hold on to their best players and replace those they need to.
The fact is, we’ve done some excellent business in this window and brought in seven very good players. The quality of these new signings shouldn’t be overshadowed by the fact that we were unable to bring in an additional striker.
I’ve addressed the circumstances of Andy and Joey’s departure in earlier answers. In relation to Kevin Nolan, we offered Kevin a new contract at the start of the summer. Unfortunately he wanted a longer deal than we were prepared to offer and ultimately an approach came in from West Ham which worked for the player and his long-term security, as well as for the club..
The situation with Jose was very straightforward. We tried to negotiate a new contract with him early in the 2010/11 season, but the player wasn’t willing to enter negotiations at that time. When we did eventually get round the table with Jose we offered him an exceptional deal. His advisors subsequently made it clear to us that he wanted to pursue a new challenge elsewhere.
If a player wishes to leave the club, then there’s only so much we can do to try and keep him. We did everything we could, but he chose to move on. Faced with the prospect of running his contract down and leaving for nothing, we had to look to sell.
Response:
If players want to leave Newcastle for any reason, then so be it, because we’ve found out over the last three years or so, that only having players who want to be at the club helps to build the team spirit, which thankfully is still excellent, by all accounts.
That doesn’t stop us from still being stunned that we have managed to lose our four top players in Carroll, Nolan, Enrique and Barton, in a short eight months.
The policy taken by the Board is that if a player wants to leave they will sell him, or if he doesn’t accept the terms of the deal offered to him, they will also move him out.
No player is bigger than the club, and we have to at least agree with that.
Players come and go, managers come and go, the Board members come and go – but Newcastle United goes on forever – even if we don’t win anything.
😀
141 comments so far
solano
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:12 PM
Comment #121Fray….open your eyes and don’t eat your pies!
You’ll see, (if you take your Ashley gegs off) that Dai started it and we have since made up and moved on..if you insist on having a pop at me though I will continue to defend my corner.
GS
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:17 PM
Comment #122Ashley made some terrible mistakes. He wasn’t really a football man and had recently come into a lot of money with Sports Direct. So he inherits Allardyce and lets him buy crap players at huge wages and play anti-football. He then hires Dennis Wise who proved he was a terrible judge of talent and caused more problems.
I still don’t know what he is doing by hiring a Managing Director with no football experience and I think that is a problem.
He has tried to appease the fans though by sacking Allardyse and hiring Keegan and Shearer and remember Shearer couldn’t turn it around even with a decent squad.
It is never all black and white, even at Newcastle. And anyone who says Ashley hasn’t been trying, hasn’t been watching.
We run the risk with all of the complaining, name-calling, protests etc. for Ashley to lose interest and do even less. Then where would we be?
solano
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Comment #123Ok Dai…my main gripe is that we have had many opportunities to exploit a chance to improve ( this summer and last January were great opportunities to make a Great Leap Forward in footballing terms). We failed because of lack of ambition and tight-fistedness and badly let down the manager. I don’t believe we will get anywhere under MA’s guidance and also believe that “the day Ashley leaves Newcastle will be a good day for the fans”- that’s a good day for me and you alike, you just ain’t realised it yet!
I’m off to play with my sonic screwdriver now!
fray bentos
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Comment #124im talking about your comment to Edd Case, nothing to do with Dai
woodsee
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Comment #125I think its worrying for the premier league just how far superior the 2 scumchesters are becoming,and to think i used to have a soft spot for city
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Comment #126Do something, you drips.
solano
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Comment #127Oh…just one more thing….GS@ 122..it is clear Ashley has very little interest in the footballing side of things at NUFC….I don’t think protests could alter that but I do think decreased revenues would hit him in the pocket and make him think about selling up to someone who has an interest in uniting the fans behind a team worthy of the city. He’s blown too many chances and relations are irreconcilable
Dai
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:26 PM
Comment #128Solano@123: I’m now now as well. Cheers for the banter, but don’t confuse “tight-fisted” with “not being held to ransome”.
I’ll back back periodically. Cheers.
Dannyo
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Comment #129I like the work we do with youth.
I’m glad we don’t spend £18 million in transfer fees and £120K on wages for a player who plays 28 matches then moves on on a free.
I like the type of players we’re currently targeting.
I like doing genuinely good deals.
I like that we’re on a sound and controlled financial footing, which is getting even better.
I’m gaining more and more respect for AP.
I’m generally happy with the transfer window and the players that came in.
I dislike that our stadium is a giant advertisement with 52.000 seats.
I dislike the lack off communication between the board and the fans.
I dislike that we didn’t get the Striker and cover for CB this window, when it was REALLY important that we did.
I dislike the politically answered questions when the answer should be simple and honest.
That sums it up for me atm. Anyone who wants to add to this, please do.
angelswithdirtyfaces
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:37 PM
Comment #130@dannyo 129. Okay as far as it goes.
Think Pardew understands the Toon and FCB and LL do not.
Okay that the business is being run on sound basis but unreasonable to expect anything other than political responses. Don’t upset the natives.
FCB and LL do not have ANY emotional involvement with the club but ALL the fans do. So did KK and Shearer – and they didn’t really succeed when we needed them – forgiving them both for lousy circumstances.
angelswithdirtyfaces
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Comment #131Dai
Scary looking teams from Manchester…got to be a blip in form soon lets hope – we are all mortal
GS
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Comment #132Salano:
as I said, it is not all Black and White.
I think Ashley is a realist and knows he is the “poorest” billionaire in the premier league and even his money cannot buy us success.
My hope is that we play good, attacking football, don’t get thrashed too many times and win more than we lose. A good cup run would be nice, but maybe asking too much given our recent history.
flash
Sep 10, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Comment #133i tried to read the responses from a nutral pov and it left me with the impression these guys do actualy try to get us into a stable possition! 2 qustions 1would we like to do a portsmouth or be in a everton position? 2 if u were the owner and people constantly verbaly abuse would u further pump money into the club?
manxpie
Sep 10, 2011 at 8:43 PM
Comment #134To all these people wantin the club sold where’s this buyer then??? The club will prob b valued at bout 300 mill debt included now n i can’t see many people clamberin 2 get it!
kingkev9
Sep 10, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Comment #135All the fans who back Ashley need their heads checked. I doubt very much that these fans actually go the games and/or live in Newcastle. Not only is Ashley determined to ruin the team he is ruining the stadium too.
As for the Carroll sale. I’ve argued about it for months with people on here saying he is a greedy git, Llambias admitted today that the offer was too good to turn down, BUT when he was sold we were told he asked for a transfer so we had to accept offer, MORE LIES yet people buy it every time. Wake up
Daft_lad
Sep 10, 2011 at 9:07 PM
Comment #136‘Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity’ …..once said by the great Martin Luther King.
A prophetic warning through the annals of history on the plight of our current chairman perhaps?
Having finally found some semblance of a backbone, slithering Sideshow Bob mustered the spunk to face his accusers…..he spoke yet said nothing……played everything with a straight bat to use cricketing parlance; showing all the skills of a seasoned politician to side step the true nature of each question. Am I surprised? No, not at all….the questions were too vague, this has simply turned into a PR ‘jog around the block’ instead of the bare-knuckle Q&A it should have been. The apathy shown by some on this blog towards the response of Llambias is nothing short of disgusting! Do you realise this individual is running our club!!?? Do you realise that he hasn’t got the first idea about football or what he’s doing!!?? We’ve all been mugged off today and yet some of you can’t see it…..Ed’s comments are fair, considered and fully justified imo….the question needs to be asked, are you one of those to which Martin Luther King refers? Or like me are you of the belief that DL must make way for a proper footballing chairman and rid ourselves of this sideshow…..
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Sep 10, 2011 at 9:12 PM
Comment #137i cant even bring myself to read any of the answers as i have lost all trust in the current mafiosa thats in charge and i will never believe a word they say ever again.
fray bentos
Sep 11, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Comment #138please don’t relate this situation to a quote by Martin Luther King in a vague attempt to sound intelligent, not really the same now is it
Tiki_Taka
Sep 11, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #139The amount of negativity towards this board is unbelievable. Some fans criticised them for not coming out and talking to the fans, yet when they answer questions they are called liars.
I remember the days when Newcastle United used to shell out massive transfer fees and pay huge wages. Oh yes, the good old days…Andreas Andersson, Silvio Maric, Marcelinho…there is nothing like a panic buy is there.
I can understand frustration but to constantly moan, whine and object to everything the board does is just shocking. I for one am glad that they are taking their time to select the right players and at the right prices. We don’t want or need any more money grabbing sub-standard players.
Forget the negative stuff. Look on the positive side. We have a board who want to make the club financially sound. A manager who wants to play the right brand of football. Youngsters…very good youngsters who are on the verge on breaking into the first team. And now…a lingerie line!
No matter who is on the board. No matter who is in the dug-out. We all bleed black & white and we all love this club.
HOWAY THE LADS!
Daft_lad
Sep 11, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Comment #140@ fray bentos
If you want to comment on my opinion then feel free….as you have the right to express your thoughts in the same way as everyone else. If you have the capacity to actually read and understand what I’ve written though
then you’d see that there is no ‘vague attempt to sound intelligent’ as you put it lol…..the point made is that a very observant and intelligent visionary once made a relevant and valid statement about the dangers of stupidity (im not necessarily relating that to you either) this is entirely relative to the situation faced by the club…..so what’s your point? I merely used a statement to highlight a fact…..what’s your problem?
Why dont you express your own opinion on NUFC if you actually have one? as opposed to making pointless statements….I do apologise for getting an education and reading a few books now and then too
Here’s another opinion of mine which like yourself;
I’m free to express…..you’re a c o c k
GenralHez
Sep 12, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #141I have now read all of the answers given by the club and many of the responses from ED and the other supporters. Here is my considered response.
Nolan and Barton wanted too long a contract for players of their age.
Jose (or maybe Jose’s agent) wanted a move, end of.
Carol had to go at the price offered, all players have a price.
The club is run on proper business footings and the current regime has saved us from FF’s banruptcy plan,
The team is stronger and the Accadamy is producing more.
I would love to have a few new players, but they have to fit into the team plans and be worth their price, overal things are good and we should support the lads and be there as the team gets stronger and more successful.
Onwards and Upwards lads, keep the faith.